Chapter 10
ten
Ellie
Best night ever. Crawling out of bed this morning wasn’t too bad either. Sean and I showered together and his slick, soapy body writhing against mine as we kissed was glorious. When he bent me over the vanity and slid into me the upward tilt of my butt allowed his cock to reach places I never thought possible.
I should be well satisfied, but it’s like a sexual dam has opened and we can’t keep our hands off each other. Getting dressed proves nearly impossible. From the pile of clothing on the floor, Sean’s jean pocket chimes.
“Shit,” he mumbles while pawing through his clothes. “It’s Maya.”
“Maya?” I’m confused. She’s just in the other room. Why would she be calling?
“She didn’t want me hovering all night. Said she’d call if she needed anything. Fuck, Ellie, I hope I haven’t missed her call.”
With his phone finally in hand, he answers, puts it on speaker then lays it on the dresser while he jerks on a pair of board shorts.
“I’m ready for my pancakes, big bro.” There’s laughter in her tone. “And would you send Ellie over? I could use a little support my first time out of bed. Don’t take too long. I’ve really gotta pee.” She chuckles before disconnecting.
“Do you think she knows?” I whisper. “About this?” I wave at the bed then pull on my clothes from yesterday. No matter what she might suspect I need to hurry. A full bladder is nothing to mess around with and I don’t want her to suffer.
He shrugs. “Probably. At least she was hoping. Pretty sure she knew there might be something going on before we did.”
“Oh my god. Were we too loud last night? Just now?”
The smirk of male pride and satisfaction on his lips encourages only one reaction. I grab his ears, tug him down and pour my emotions into my kiss. What we did might have been just a release—well a number of releases—of the stress filled day. I know he cares for me. We’ve been friends a long time.
If this change of status is going to end up with us becoming friends with benefits, I can keep my emotions under control. Once I figure out exactly what they are.
I suspect I might be in love with Sean. There’s no sudden singing of birds, sparking lights, no hearts floating in the air. This has been slowly growing for a long time. I didn’t believe there was room in my life for both love and a successful career. Now I hope there is a way.
“You’d better get going.” Sean turns me toward the door and pats my butt. “Don’t keep her waiting. She’ll be really suspicious then.”
Hurrying across the apartment feels almost like a walk of shame. At least I’m not out on the street trying to sneak home. The thought makes me chuckle and I enter the bedroom with a grin and bow. “I am at your beck and call.”
Maya’s balancing on the very edge of the bed, her injured leg outstretched and propped up with her heel. “Just give me a hand up. We’ll talk in a sec. ’Kay?”
After she has the crutches positioned she refuses my help getting into the bathroom. “I need to do what I can by myself. You won’t always be around.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
In the bathroom doorway she inches around to face me. “Would you grab my purple sweats and a tee? I’ll get dressed when I’m done in here.”
Although a few stifled gasps of pain sound through the door to worry me, I honor my friend’s need to do for herself. Once back in the room she does allow me to help her get dressed. With her hair in a high ponytail, we make our way slowly to the living room.
“What’s all this?” she asks Sean who’s standing proudly next to the recliner he moved to the center of the room. “Taking up decorating now?”
“Nope. Just trying to make things easier and more comfortable for you. Comfy chair to elevate your knee. Side table to hold whatever you need. A TV tray that hopefully you can use for your laptop. An assortment of pillows for any occasion. A blanket in case your ice packs make you cold.”
“Looks like you’ve thought of almost everything.”
“Almost? What do you need? No matter what, I’ll get it for you, baby sis.”
Maya waits until she’s seated with her pillow cushioned leg on the elevated footrest to answer. “I’m still waiting for my pancakes.”
The breakfast Sean prepares is enjoyable as the three of us avoid the topic of Maya’s knee. We revisit memories of how we’ve gotten to this place in our careers. Good, and even the not so good moments, pale in comparison to our current situation.
Sean retrieves Maya’s laptop from the bedroom while I load the dishwasher and clean the kitchen. Maya boots her computer. “Okay, you two. No we really do need to do some serious talking.”
The recliner now faces the couch so Sean and I sit with a cushion wide space between us. Maya gives us a disappointed look and shakes her head. Clear evidence she does suspect something happened between us last night. I need to talk with Sean about what and how much to tell her. And how soon. Definitely sooner than later. Maya’s too astute for us to be sneaking around. Especially when we all share the same apartment.
“I’ve been thinking,” Maya begins. “There’s nothing we can do about this tournament. Even if substitutes were allowed there’s not enough time to find someone.”
“I’m not teaming with anyone but you,” I say. “I mean it. We started our careers together. We’ll finish together. This is just a bump in the road.”
Her brows arch. “Sure, that promise was fine when we were in college. We’re older now. We know the highs and lows of top level competition. We’ve seen players and teams come and go. Maybe… well, maybe my injury indicates our time is over. I don’t want to hold you back. I figure if we pull out of the next three tournaments it’ll give you enough time to find a new partner and?—”
“No.” I lean forward and shake my finger at her. “Once you’re?—”
“Ellie, you heard the doctor. You’ve seen the effects of a torn ACL in other athletes. There’s no guarantee I’ll ever get back into competition form. No guarantee I’ll ever be able to play on the elite, professional level again. We have to face facts. I may not be able to get on the sand right now and there’s no way I’m abandoning the team. Your dream is sacred to me.”
I look at the man beside me. “Sean?”
He moves closer and takes my hand. Maya grins. After taking a deep breath he says, “We all know that even under the best circumstances there’s no way Maya will be able to compete this season. She doesn’t want you to lose your skill level or for the Olympic coaches to forget about you.” He glances at his sister. “Am I doing okay?”
“Perfect. Ellie, at least give it some thought. Tryout a couple of girls. See how they work out in a competition setting. Keep going. Improving. Knowing that you’re still headed toward the goal of gold medals will ease my mind and help me heal faster. Better.”
Oh, she’s good. She’s pushing all the right buttons to get me to do what she wants. I’ll go along with her. At least for now. “Fine. I’ll agree to at least work with possible teammates as long as they realize competing with me is temporary. Only until you’re back in fighting form.” I grin. “I assume you already have a list of candidates.”
Returning my grin, she turns her screen toward me. “Of course. And I’ve already crossed off a couple. Like… Karol.”
Sean gives what I suspect isn’t a mock shudder. “Good. I don’t think I’d ever be able to coach that bitch. Hell, I don’t even want to be on the same beach.”
He squeezes my hand before releasing it. “I need to meet with this tournament’s organizers. Since you won’t be competing, I’m going to let them know I’ll spend the whole day with the kids’ activities. I hope you’ll help out, too.
“Of course. Maybe then our young friend from the pier won’t be too disappointed we’re not competing. Spending individual time on the sand with us should be an acceptable substitution.” Heat fills my face when I realize I’ve included Maya in my ‘us’. I cast her an apologetic look.
Her expression is determined—her game face. “That’s the other thing I need to talk about. There is no way I’m staying cooped up here while you two are on the beach. I should have no problem getting to the edge of the sand with those damn crutches, but after that, you’ll need to devise some way to get me over the sand. To a safe observation point.”
“Baby sis, don’t you worry. I’ll figure it out.”
By some miracle, three days later Sean claims to have a plan and we load up his truck and head to the competition site. I have no clue how he found time to work on anything to help Maya traverse the sand though. Between dealing with the management side of his duties—which he refuses to relinquish to Maya—and all the moments we found to sneak away to someplace private, there wasn’t much of the day left.
Oh, those private moments. Often we started out talking but it really is impossible to keep my hands, and other parts of my body, off him when we’re alone.
Maya’s caught us a few time. She only smiles and leaves us alone. I worry I’m not spending enough time with her and she’s spending too much of her days in her own head. I sense she’s confused about something. Until she brings it up, I’m not sure how to help.
Today excitement fills her expression. “I can’t wait to feel the sand under my feet. Well, uh, foot,” she exclaims.
Once we’ve taken the closest parking space we find, Sean leans over the steering wheel to peer at the area crowded with volleyball courts, tents for officials and competitors, and informational displays. The narrow open spaces are congested with people.
“The organizers were kind enough to set up a spare competitors’ bench with an umbrella by the kids’ area. Paxton helped me construct a sled-like contraption we can pull to get you there safely. Warning you though. It’s not pretty.”
Maya pats his shoulder. “Doesn’t matter what it looks like. As long as it gets me where I want to go.”
Just maneuvering Maya’s knee brace covered leg in and out of the truck is a process and a small crowd gathers. A pair of tall, tanned men wearing matching loose tees make their way through the observers toward us.
“O.M.G,” Maya whispers. “The B Boys. What are they doing here?”
We’ve been on the circuit a few years but we’ve never met the number one team in the country. Both fist bump Sean, nod at me, then focus on Maya.
“Sorry to hear about your injury, Maya. Sucks big time,” Brett, the slightly taller one says. “Not a good way to start a season.”
“We’ll miss seeing you at the tourneys,” Blaine adds. “You and Ellie are a great team.”
Maya dismisses their compliment. “Oh, she’ll be back before long. We’ve got a few tryouts scheduled with great, young players. She’ll surprise everyone how well she does with a new partner.”
Blaine shakes his head, making his shaggy, sun-blond hair dance. “Won’t be the same. Gonna come watch our match later?”
A blush tints Maya’s cheeks. “Getting around isn’t going to be easy. But if I can make it, I will.”
Brett nudges his partner. “We’ll make sure you’re there. And with the best seat. Where are you off to now?”
“Kids’ area,” Sean supplies.
“Great. No problem.” Blaine steps forward and asks, “Your permission?”
Confused, Maya glances at her brother, then me. I’ve got no help for her. “Um, okay?”
“Let me know if you’re uncomfortable or if I’m hurting you in any way,” Blaine says before carefully lifting her in his arms.
“What are you doing?” she sputters.
“Obviously, I’m carrying you to the beach.”
“Hey,” his teammate complains. “I was going to do that.”
“Next time. Maybe. I’ve got her now.”
Brett moves in front of them to clear a path. I hear Maya complain then at a soft comment from her transportation, she falls silent and her arm snakes over his shoulder and around his neck.
I elbow Sean. “Did you have something to do with this?”
Watching his sister disappear behind a small tent, he shakes his head. “Not a damn thing.”